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Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) was when promoted as the new wunderkind plant for biofuel. What is a Jatropha curcas tree? The tree or bush grows in any type of soil at a fast rate, is harmful, and produces fuel suitable for diesel motor. Read on for more Jatropha tree information and see how you rate this plant.

What is a Jatropha Curcas Tree?

Jatropha is a perennial shrub or tree. It is drought-resistant and simple to grow in tropical to semi-tropical areas. The plant lives for up to 50 years and may grow almost 20 feet (6 m.) tall. It has a deep, thick taproot which makes it versatile to bad, dry soil. The leaves are oval, lobed, and deciduous. Overall, the plant is not particularly aesthetically attractive, but it does get attractive green cymes of flowerets which turn into a tri-compartment fruit with large black seeds. These large black seeds are the reason for all the hullaballoo, since they are high in burnable oil. A fascinating piece of Jatropha tree information is that it is listed as a weed in Brazil, Fiji, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Salvador. This proves how versatile and durable the plant is even when introduced to a brand-new region. Jatropha curcas cultivation can produce oil that is an excellent alternative to present biofuels. Its usefulness has been challenged, however it is true the plant can produce seeds with an oil material of 37%. Unfortunately, it is still a part of the food vs. fuel dispute, as it requires land that might enter into food production. Scientists are attempting to develop a "very Jatropha" with bigger seeds and, therefore, bigger oil yields.

Jatropha Curcas Cultivation

are rather limited. Most parts of the plant are harmful to eat due to the latex sap, but it is used as a medicinal. It is useful in treating snakebite, paralysis, dropsy, and obviously some cancers. The plant may have come from Central to South America, but it has been presented worldwide and flourishes wild in places like India, Africa, and Asia. Chief among Jatropha utilizes is its prospective as a tidy burning fuel to replace nonrenewable fuel sources. Plantation growing in specific areas has actually been attempted, however general Jatropha curcas cultivation has been a depressing failure. This is since the production mass of oil can not equal the land use by cropping Jatropha.

Jatropha Plant Care and Growth

The plant is easy to grow from cuttings or seed. Cuttings lead to faster maturity and quicker seed production. It prefers warm climates, however it can make it through a light frost. The deep taproot makes it drought-tolerant, although the finest development will be achieved with additional watering sometimes. It does not have any major disease or insect issues in its natural regions. It might be pruned, however flowers and fruit type on terminal growth, so it is best to wait up until after blooming. No other Jatropha plant care is necessary. This plant works as a hedge or living fence, or just as an ornamental stand-alone specimen.

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Bonnie Grant is a professional landscaper with a Certification in Urban Gardening. She has actually been gardening and composing for 15 years. A former expert chef, she has a passion for edible landscaping.